Our new BT50 GT

[Millsy]

Millsy, can I ask what type of camera you have fitted and where from. I am currently trying to fit one but it is around 30mm diam and 40mm long. I would like to fit one roughly where your's is but this one is too big.

Love your work.

Cheers CR. I got the camera system on eBay, here is a link;

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Caravan-...Accessories&hash=item4cfe91b678#ht_8470wt_964

Great guy to deal with, supplied the longest van lead at no extra cost, good guality for the dollars. This kit was far and away cheaper than anything I could get through my suppliers at work, and I wanted a full screen mirror replacement as with the van on, the rear view mirror is useless! The camera fitted to Barry is the CCD Mini Underbody.

G'day Millsy I have a couple of questions if thats ok mate

1. Where did you tap into the high beam wiring for your driving lights to be switched off with the high beam? At the headlights or under the dash via the headlight switch?

2. For the reverse camera is the power just supplied via the factory reverse wiring at the rear? Did you wire in a relay too or is that not needed? Just curious to know if the wiring is suitable for doing it this way.

Thanks in advance mate

No probs CD.

I tapped into the high beam at the rear of the passenger headlight. Nice and easy to access. As I was doing it this way, I didn't look at a wiring diagram to confirm whether or not the high beam switching side is done through the BCM. Generally I always connect at the back of the headlight, and run 2 or 3mm twin into the switch. (one wire from the high beam feed into the switch, the other from the switch out to the relay).

The reverse camera supply I have run through a relay, as I have set it up to switch on with reverse, or manually via a switch. This will enable me to switch the van camera on whilst travelling. I did look at a wiring diagram for this, and the reverse lights can be safely tapped into if need be, as they are powered from a relay and not directly from the BCM.

Holy crap Millsy!! What a load of mods

what screen did you run the camera to?

Looks like I forgot to put the screen pic up as well!

 

[chartrock]

Millsy, thanks for the camera info, now I have to see if they sell a camera only. I have purchased a kit that has the exact same monitor in it, at least by appearances. I, too wired up a switch to enable me to switch it on when driving only to find it isn't necessary. The unit takes power and beeps when the ignition comes on but does nothing until you engage reverse when it springs to life but if you want it on at any other time I just have to touch the power button ( the bottom one on the right of the monitor) and again I have a picture.

I purchased my kit from the place Lara found. My link is not working so I can't show it but the place is Homesecurityonline and the prices were a little less than they are now showing.

 

[cruza driver]

Thanks Millsy, thats the way I was going to do my driving lights as I have before but wasn't sure which approach to take with the BT. When you say taped into the high beam what approach do you normally take (sorry for the questions )

And again thanks for the tips on the reverse camera as I'll be looking at doing that too as I hook the Expanda up by myself quite often I wasn't sure if the reverse factory wiring loom would cope but it all sounds good.

Cheers

 

[Moto Moto]

I have nothing to add but WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!



Well done Millsy!

 

[Millsy]

Thanks Millsy, thats the way I was going to do my driving lights as I have before but wasn't sure which approach to take with the BT. When you say taped into the high beam what approach do you normally take (sorry for the questions )

And again thanks for the tips on the reverse camera as I'll be looking at doing that too as I hook the Expanda up by myself quite often I wasn't sure if the reverse factory wiring loom would cope but it all sounds good.

Cheers

No problems mate, happy to help out with anything auto elec related. I just strip back a bit of the insulation on the high beam wire with wire strippers or side cutters and solder the switching wire in, this is the best electrical connection. I'll have a look at mine or dig up the wiring diagram and let you know what colour the wire is to tap into.

The reverse camera is a godsend for hookin up anything! Highly recommend it!

I have nothing to add but WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!



Well done Millsy!

Thankyou mate.

 

[cruza driver]

Thanks again Millsy, :first:

 

[relgate]

Can do mate, however this is where it starts to get scary as to how many $$$ you can invest into a vehicle!

Let me start by saying that my situation would be a little different to most, as I am an auto electrician. I'm pretty competent mechanically as well as working with a mechanical workshop. This gives me access to parts and accessories at better prices than most, as well as a full workshop at my disposal, with the ability to carry out all installation work myself.

The build up of Barry has pretty much been a start from scratch arrangement, so the current total includes items that one would consider pretty essential for touring such as a tyres, fridge, recovery gear, handheld uhf's, air compressor and a couple of other items such as the canvas rear seat cover. All the accessories that we wanted to fit have been purchased, it is now just a matter of finding time to get the installation done!

The total including purchasing Barry with a few dealer accessories currently sits at $66400. If I wasn't in the trade and had just opened the cheque book for accessories the total would be closer to $73000. If I had paid full whack for someone to install everything for me add roughly another $2700. If we hadn't pushed so hard on our original purchase price of Barry and played three dealers off against each other we could have easily paid another $5000 for the vehicle.

So, to summarise, if we had just whipped out the gold card, not really cared how much it cost and I had no interest or ability in doing any of the work myself or any trade contacts, we could well be looking at a total nudging just over $80000.

I told you the numbers get scary when you add them up!

Cheers
Shane

Hi Millsy
Have been reading through your thread with interest as I am about to purchase a new BT50 GT also
You have been a great help with cost so appreciate all of your reports etc. I am looking at adding a TJM bullbar (thanks also to MolongMick for his pics), tyres, underbody protection and canopy. From yours and others reports, looks like I will need to do suspension as well due to the weight of the bar etc. I guess this will lift the vehicle too.
Thanks again for the info.

 

[Millsy]

A quick update on Barry..........He has just clocked over 20,000 kays, and has been brilliant, has not skipped a beat. He is still doing a great job towing the van, and has proved to be very capable off road as well. Had a day in the Glasshouse Mtns where a few of the mods showed their worth, a stock BT with diff lock in was getting stuck where I wasn't with no diff lock. Win.
Only problem with the Glasshouse trip was that it cost me a new set of sidesteps........Barry now has TJM steps........pics to come!

Cheers
Millsy

 

[relgate]

That's one way to upgrade the steps!

 

[cruza driver]

That's great new Millsy are you back in town for a while or heading north again?

Hope all is well.

:tea: Cruza

 

[Millsy]

That's great new Millsy are you back in town for a while or heading north again?

Hope all is well.

:tea: Cruza

All things being equal we will be hitting the road again hopefully at the end of this week, shooting straight back up to the Sunshine Coast or a bit further north.

Cheers

 

[Millsy]

This is what a stump does to the factory Mazda steel side steps...........thankfully no sill damage!

 

[Xpandafan]

This is what a stump does to the factory Mazda steel side steps...........thankfully no sill damage!
View attachment 15796

Ouch. Lucky one Millsy. Lesson there for newbies, factory side steps are just steps, no matter how good they look. "Barry" will be happier with his TJM's.

 

[cruza driver]

Lucky you had the lift to Millsy or it may have been a different story, did you get brushbars or just the steps?

 

[achjimmy]

This is what a stump does to the factory Mazda steel side steps...........thankfully no sill damage!
View attachment 15796

very lucky, does the BT have side airbags?

 

[Millsy]

Ouch. Lucky one Millsy. Lesson there for newbies, factory side steps are just steps, no matter how good they look. "Barry" will be happier with his TJM's.

Trust me it was unintentional, just didn't see the stump til it was too late! Never had any faith that the factory ones would take a big hit!

 

[Millsy]

Lucky you had the lift to Millsy or it may have been a different story, did you get brushbars or just the steps?

Thats for sure! Just got the steps mate, i'll get a piccie up soon.

 

[Millsy]

very lucky, does the BT have side airbags?

Yeah, has side airbags, would have to cop a much bigger hit than a stump to trigger them tho.

 

[cruza driver]

Millsy I see you have your brake controller in the pocket did you remove it to drill the holes for the wiring or do it in place?

I want to mount my uhf there without pulling the dash out for the wires, are there any surprises behind there?

Thanks mate

 

[Millsy]

Millsy I see you have your brake controller in the pocket did you remove it to drill the holes for the wiring or do it in place?

I want to mount my uhf there without pulling the dash out for the wires, are there any surprises behind there?

Thanks mate

I drilled a hole without pulling the dash apart, but from memory the heater box is pretty close behind, so you just need to be gentle with the drill so you don't punch into the heater box when you have drilled through the pocket plastic. If you want to see a bit more and make running wires easier, the heater controls come out pretty easily.

Cheers